Pneumatic die grinders

[ladrones]

So I have a drawer full of HF die grinders along with some older worn out IR stuff. My SOP has always been to use the HF junk until it quits then throw it in the garbage. Don't loose much sleep over that at the price point but the efficiency is really not up to par.

I have some major engine projects coming up that require a whole bunch of cleaning/buffing and I would not mind investing into some quality die grinders to complete the task.

Any suggestions?

 

[Farmall450]

IR all the way.

 

[Zeke]

Bigger is better. Those HF units might not be up to task. I'd get a flex drive and a 1/2 HP motor.

 

[Ign]

Depends, if you want average guy pricing, IR or Sioux. Also hard to go wrong with anything from Florida Pneumatic. If you want $300 to $500 per, Dynabrade or Dotco.

If you haven't already, check the power tool clearance section at your local HD. Two days ago I picked up a Husky "Pro" right angle die grinder (I never realized Husky put out a "Pro" line in their air tools) for $23, allegedly $80 regular price. Made in Taiwan

Obviously, anything w the rubber/plastic surround can be nice to not freeze your hands off.

 

[HAP]

Just ordered this one from Amazon yesterday.

http://www.factoryauthorizedoutlet....gle-die-grinder-w-0-4-hp-and-20-000-rpm-motor

R,
HAP

 

[wafrederick]

King Tony America M7.I have one and been a great die grinder so far,not a lick of problems with it yet.

 

[theknurl]

DOTCO;
period. end of statement

ask anybody that ports cylinder heads.....like Jerry Branch (Branch Flowmetrics)
or Donnie Emler (FMF)

i got a way over used 1/4" DOTCO out of Donnie's junk box in '75-6 put a new bearing in it......its been my weld cleaner
for ~37 years

i paid full pop for my long shank 1/4" porting tool....its worn a lot of carbide burrs and sanding rolls out

i have 2, 1/4" baby angle heads too and buy 3" discs by the box


DOTCO is the way to go

 

[ladrones]

Looking at the dotco and dynabrade stuff now.

 

[oldtools]

Dotco and Cleco are owned by Apex. Dotco is more for detail work. Cleco is for heavy duty work. So if you just want to grind alot of metal away, Cleco is better.

 

[ZRX61]

I had a Matco die grinder for about 20 years, the replacement lasted 2 freaking weeks. What a POS.

 

[mtnwalton]

DOTCO;
period. end of statement

ask anybody that ports cylinder heads.....like Jerry Branch (Branch Flowmetrics)
or Donnie Emler (FMF)

i got a way over used 1/4" DOTCO out of Donnie's junk box in '75-6 put a new bearing in it......its been my weld cleaner
for ~37 years

i paid full pop for my long shank 1/4" porting tool....its worn a lot of carbide burrs and sanding rolls out

i have 2, 1/4" baby angle heads too and buy 3" discs by the box


DOTCO is the way to go

What he said

 

[Ign]

It should be mentioned IR makes tools of all levels, including the full-on industrial 100% duty cycle type stuff, too. I'm sure Marlin will have some info in the morning.........or after the holiday weekend.

 

[cyato]

Another point to consider is the level of control that the die grinder offers. Some units may seem equal on the spec sheets but have totally different user experiences. A lot of the cheaper units have an all or nothing trigger. They're usually so weak that full throttle is needed just to get the job done. I was very disappointed with a mid/low level IR die grinder that I had back in the day because it had a hair trigger and was very difficult to control. My personal collection consists of multiple Snap On PT200a and PT210a die grinders which I find to have a great combination of power, weight, control and noise.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

I have this one at work. It is works well has plenty of power for me
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=675145&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

I have this one at home it lacks on the power but i dont use it nearly as much or as hard.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VYZ1HW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[jteck75]

I have a Dynabrade 90 degree,and a St Louis Pneumatic straight,they've both served me very well! Good Luck!

 

[Rider_996]

I have a bunch of HF die grinders too but got a set of Matco .5hp when they were on a good sale. They are much nicer than the HF tools with more power and control, and the composite housing with rubberized grip is nice so your hand doesn't freeze.

 

[sberry]

The small hf is short on power. I have used a LOT of these and like the electric went looking for cheaper that still did the job. The TSC Farmhand has a couple models that get rebranded all over the world and sold at different price levels. The right angle is as tough as any I have ever used, never even had to tighten a screw, current5ly have 3 or 4, a couple quite old and run same as always.

I agree with looking at HD as some Husky, not sure about all the models but that rotary I think may be the same as the TSC, its super tough and got the power.

Its great the worlds best engine porter uses a 500$ grinder and it makes some guys feel better but Ray Charles couldn't tell the difference using one or the other.

Those 3 are award winners, brutally tough.

 

[Dave455]

I've got old British made ones by Desoutter! Awesome tools if you can find one used!

I've seen newer made tools, but still to the original patterns, that are not bad! Ones I saw were made in Hungary, but that's a lot better than Taiwan or China! Be careful though, there are also some cheap 'generic' tools with the CP/Desoutter name on!

A few years back I wouldn't have hesitated to reccomend IR. You always had to be careful to avoid the cheap line of tools made in Taiwan, but the next grade up were much better, and still reasonably priced, for what you got! Sadly, they've changed around the models now, and all the 'medium duty' die grinders have now got plastic bodies!! Big big Mistake! I think there is still a separate 'aerospace grade' but they are not even shown in the catalogue I picked up, so they really are steering you downmarket!

The reason I use an air tool is that I want something more durable than an electric tool! A die grinder particularly, with all the **** flying about, is going to get scuffed to hell if it hasn't got a metal body! (Snap On also note this!)

So, I reckon that leaves us with Dotco / Cleco at the top end, which I wouldn't hesitate to buy if I could afford! Dotco have never really had a big presence in the U.K. aerospace industry because Desoutter dominated the top end and IR the mid ground. I'm starting to see them more and more though!

If I wanted a mid range tool I 'd probably consider Kuken from Japan. (not Ko Ken!) I've seen their impact wrenches and they are beautifully smooth to use, so I'd probably risk a die grinder! Again, exercise caution as there are cheap models at the bottom of the range which are the usual generic Taiwanese!

 

[Murphy4570]

I have a nice Matco one. Black rubber handle and a reverse switch. Has tons of power. Was fairly pricey, but is awesome. The reverse function alone is worth so much to me.

This one:

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/MT2871RK/3-HEAVY-DUTY-REVERSING-CUT-OFF-TOOL-KIT/

 

[IHI]

Company I work for does everything from engineered drawings, pattern making, we have an iron and alloy foundry, full service machine shop, assembly/shipping..all in house production for control.

Anyhow, all our deburring departments that run 3 shifts use CP/Chicago Pnuematic straight/right angle diegrinders that run 3 shifts 6-7 days a week and we have very few tool replacement issues. I have a drawer full of MAC air tools of all kinds that I bought while doing OTR truck repairs/maintainence and it will outlast anything I do at home obviously, but give CP a look. I know going forward by the way their products get beat up and abused at work and their proven longevity I will be ordering from them in the future...Cant really argue with diegrinders that see industrial abuse 24/6 and don't fail for 1-2yrs...it would take the common man a generation or two to replicate that kind of use.

 

[sberry]

I like CP and there are vendors that sell it right, auto parts stores got a flier all the time with pretty good prices. Bought what seems like a premium air ratchet, 1/4 was 69$ I think. Picked it up in the store or had it delivered same day..

 

[sberry]

I havnt ran some of these in constant shift work but they have done more than a hobby garage would do in a lifetime. Some we ran hard when we bought new, used several boxes of disks on that 7 inch during a couple year period, then a box or 2 in next 10 yrs.

I heard "some engine work" Aint an hour"s of work air on timeto a reman to a common engine job, more in custom but there isn't a guy sitting there 2 months doing it, buy a 500$ grinder and have it worn 5% when you die. In todays world with a little shopping can buy a 70$ one and use 6% of it. A 20$ one wont last.

I got a 10 or 20$ HF 1/4 pencil grinder on my service truck, may have used it once, just in case etc but when we were busy in the shop wore a couple right out. Replaced it with the red Husky for 10 more and never serviced it again.

 

[RV77]

IR all the way.

X2.............

 

[oldtools]

Company I work for does everything from engineered drawings, pattern making, we have an iron and alloy foundry, full service machine shop, assembly/shipping..all in house production for control.

Anyhow, all our deburring departments that run 3 shifts use CP/Chicago Pnuematic straight/right angle diegrinders that run 3 shifts 6-7 days a week and we have very few tool replacement issues. I have a drawer full of MAC air tools of all kinds that I bought while doing OTR truck repairs/maintainence and it will outlast anything I do at home obviously, but give CP a look. I know going forward by the way their products get beat up and abused at work and their proven longevity I will be ordering from them in the future...Cant really argue with diegrinders that see industrial abuse 24/6 and don't fail for 1-2yrs...it would take the common man a generation or two to replicate that kind of use.

There are industrial CP and home edition CP. Industrial CP is close to the price of Dotco/Cleco. Home edition CP is about the same as Husky.

 

[ladrones]

I think I am good with a 700.00 budget for two tools.

 

[ladrones]

Anyone have experiance with the Snap-on pt400 and pt410?

 

[cnc-me]

The small hf is short on power. I have used a LOT of these and like the electric went looking for cheaper that still did the job. The TSC Farmhand has a couple models that get rebranded all over the world and sold at different price levels. The right angle is as tough as any I have ever used, never even had to tighten a screw, current5ly have 3 or 4, a couple quite old and run same as always.

I agree with looking at HD as some Husky, not sure about all the models but that rotary I think may be the same as the TSC, its super tough and got the power.

Its great the worlds best engine porter uses a 500$ grinder and it makes some guys feel better but Ray Charles couldn't tell the difference using one or the other.

Those 3 are award winners, brutally tough.

Have one like #3 tough, but sure uses the air, 3/8" hose minimum
Had to replace the main spindle bearing a few years back.

 

[sberry]

Yes, I replaced the bearing on that one also, its the only one I repaired and had a bearing on the shelf, it was common. I had intended on replacing it when it went south but after the bearing it has made it another 10 yrs and still works.

Yes, its greedy but you cant get something for nothing, it makes a lot of power.